For the first time since 1985, there will be a significant change in the 2017 Monster Energy AMA Supercross format when the season opens Jan. 7 at Angel Stadium.

All competition – from heat races to the main events – will transition to a timed format.

The clock starts with the drop of the gate. In the featured 450SX class, main events will be 20 minutes plus one lap. The 250 class will be 15 minutes plus one lap. However, if the clock still has time after 20 laps, the field will have two more laps.

“We believe this change will bring the fitness element more into play and provide more excitement for our fans,” said Dave Prater, senior director of Supercross operations for promoter Feld Entertainment.

The first three events in the series are set for Southern California. In addition to the Jan. 7 opener, Anaheim will also host the third event Jan. 21, sandwiching the Jan. 14 competition in San Diego.

Ryan Dungey is the defending 450 champion, having easily outdistanced Ken Roczen by 60 points. James Anderson, Eli Tomac and Chad Reed rounded out the top five in 2016, followed by Cole Seeley (Sherman Oaks), Marvin Musquin (Corona), Justin Brayton, Trey Canard and Jacob Weimer (Wildomar).

North Carolina’s Cooper Webb won the West 250 West title, with Christian Craig of Corona third and Lake Elsinore’s Zach Osborne fourth.

Dungey, who will face an international field in his quest for a third consecutive Supercross title, enjoyed success in Southern California in 2016. He was the winner of the second event at Anaheim and also triumphed during the outdoor season at Glen Helen,

YOUNG CHAMPION

Todd Gilliland, who spent his formative years in Chino Hills alongside his father and NASCAR Cup Series driver David Gilliland, was certainly the youngest of those feted last week at the NASCAR Night of Champions Touring Awards in Charlotte, N.C.

And now, his racing horizon has expanded.

Gilliland, the youngest champion in any NASCAR national or touring series at 16 years five months old after winning this year’s K&N Pro Series West, will compete in the West and East portion of the series in 2017.

“This is a great opportunity to take the next step in my racing career,” Gilliland said. “We want to build on the success we had in the 2016 season. It’s a big move to compete for points in both divisions.

“I look forward to the challenge and I’m thankful to Bill McAnally Racing, NAPA, Toyota and our other great partners for making this happen.”

Not only did young Gilliland accept the championship trophy but also his championship ring. And if that wasn’t enough, Gilliland was also honored as the rookie of the year.

It was a record seventh series title for the Roseville-based team. BMR has also won in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2008, 2010, and 2015.

McAnally was presented with the championship car owner trophy and crew chief Chris Lawson also picked up hardware.

Gilliland registered six wins, six poles, 11 top-five and 13 top-10 finishes in 14 K&N West races in 2016. In addition, he had one win, three top-five, and five top-10 finishes in five starts in the K&N East – finishing 20th in the standings for that division.

PIT STOPS

 Upland’s Krista Baldwin was among the drag racers under 30 years of age highlighted by Drag Illustrated in its December issue. Alcohol Funny Car driver Jonnie Lindberg graced the cover of the Tomorrow Issue. Fellow alcohol drivers Shane Westerfield, Megan Meyer and Baldwin were also featured, in addition to Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Cory Reed and Pro Stock’s Alex Laughlin “I’m so honored to be apart of this year’s Drag Illustrated 30 under 30,” Baldwin said. “Lots of awesome young talent and I’m just amazed to be recognize with them. Even got to share the spotlight with Nitro University Anthony Dicero Racing teammate Alex Laughlin.”

 Now through the end of the year, Auto Club Speedway is offering a ticket for the March 24-26 NASCAR weekend in 2017 that will include a Garage Tour ticket package. Fans will be allowed in the garage area in addition to premium grandstand seats for the March 26 Cup race, the March 25 Xfinity race and qualifying on March 24. Only race fans 18 or older will be allowed on the garage tour. The package can be purchased at 800-944-7223 or www.autospeedway.com or by visiting the ACS office at 9300 Cherry Ave. in Fontana, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

 Having won 10 AMA Supercross and motocross championships, Ryan Villopoto and Kawasaki Motors have renewed their relationship. The 28-year-old racer joined Kawasaki when he was 14.

 Perris Auto Speedway will resume the Winter Heat Challenge Series on Jan. 7 and 21 in addition to Feb. 10 and 11. All of the modified races will be sanctioned by IMCA and will pay national, regional, California state and PAS points for the 2017 season. Winners in the first race of the series last week included Frank Politelli of Acton in Modifieds; Riverside’s Larry Wells in Street Stocks; Fred Estrada of Riverside in Super Stocks; and Alyssa Smith of Norco in Factory Stocks.

 Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been cleared to return to NASCAR’s top level after missing half of the 2016 season due to concussion issues. While he’ll compete in the season-opening Daytona 500, he will skip the non-points Clash at Daytona (formerly the Sprint Unlimited) and allow Alex Bowman to race, a reward for Bowman winning a pole during the season. To prepare for Daytona, Earnhardt put in 185 laps during a nearly five-hour session at Darlington with crew chief Greg Ives. He also spent more than 15 hours in a racing simulator during his recovery. Earnhardt tested under the watchful eye of Dr. Mickey Collins, from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Sports Medicine Concussion Program, and Charlotte neurosurgeon Dr. Jerry Petty.

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